- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Vivasayee
- Movie release year
- 1967
- Lyrics added on
- 13 Apr 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This playful yet culturally loaded duet from the 1967 film 'Vivasayee' features a conversation between a traditional farmer (played by M.G. Ramachandran) and a young woman (played by K.R. Vijaya). The hero advocates for traditional rural values, female modesty, and native Tamil customs, cautioning against excessive Western influence, revealing modern attire, cosmetics, and the fading of traditional aesthetics like long oiled hair. In response, the heroine argues that adapting mildly to modern times is natural, while proving her worth by asserting her dedication to hard agricultural labor alongside men.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Proverb / Folk Idiom
“Kazhudha thenji katterumbaachi naatile”
The line uses a famous Tamil proverbial idiom 'Kazhudha thenji katterumbaachi' (a donkey diminishing until it becomes a tiny ant) to satirize modern societal decay and role reversal.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“kaatakoodaadhu / maatakoodaadhu / theetakoodaadhu / maatrakoodaadhu”
The refrain uses repeating suffix rhymes ending in 'koodaadhu' (should not) across multiple consecutive lines to build rhythmic discipline.
Monai (Initial Alliteration / Rhythm)
“Kalai edukanum vilaiya vekkanum / Kadhiru muthinaa vayal arukanum / Kattum sumakanum kalamum sekkanum / Kaatha paathu thoothi vidanum”
Heavy use of 'Ka' initial consonant sound across agricultural action verbs, creating a brisk tempo reflecting dynamic farm labor.
Antithesis (Eppadi - Appadi)
“Naan eppadi eppadi irukanumo / Appadi appadi maathunga”
Use of contrasting correlative adverbs ('eppadi eppadi' and 'appadi appadi') to show total submission and willingness to adapt.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Vivasayee' (1967), directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Devar, was a major hit that reinforced MGR's screen image as the champion of the agrarian working class. Lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi, famously known as 'Kavirayar', was celebrated for inserting rationalist thoughts, social commentary, and agricultural terminology seamlessly into popular film songs.
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